The Altar is the Crib
We are now in Advent — a time of watching and waiting.
A weary, exhausted world awaits its redemption. The Magi await a King of Kings. John the Baptist awaits the Messiah. And Our Lady awaits a Child who will be the fulfillment of all of these.
We might be tempted in this time of medical and political uncertainty to place our hopes and expectations in other solutions to the world’s problems.
But as Catholics our hearts’ joy rests instead, as we will soon sing in the carol In Dulci Jubilo, in the presepio. And as St. Alphonsus Liguori has taught us, Christ “is born every day in the Sacrament by means of the priests and the words of consecration; the altar is the crib.”
It was in the quiet stillness of Bethlehem, in a manger, away from the halls of power, that the world was redeemed. And that Incarnation continues to be made present in thousands of whispered consecrations over the altars of the world.
As we enter this penitential and hopeful season, let us remember that it is the Masses of our priests that truly and really bring our Savior into the world.
With humble thanksgiving and recourse to God, we ask the faithful for their spiritual and financial support this Advent as we strive to increase our Mass times and make Christ’s birth present to all the devout faithful no matter what obstacles may be placed in our way.
Please keep us in your prayers and, if you are able, join us tomorrow, December 1st for our Giving Tuesday campaign to help us meet the sacramental challenges that we face: https://fssp.com/giving-tuesday/
And may the Christ child, who continues to feed us from the crib, continue to draw us all closer to the life of the Holy Trinity in heaven.
November 30, 2020
